Chris Guiliano (45.17) & Jack Alexy (45.09) Break U.S. Open Record In Back-To-Back 100 Free Heats At SC World Trials

2026 U.S. Short Course World Championship Trials

The third day of the 2026 U.S. Short Course World Championship Trials kicked off with a bang, as 23-year-old Olympic and World Championship medalists Jack Alexy and Chris Guiliano each broke the U.S. Open Record in the men’s 100 SCM freestyle.

Guiliano set the tone with a rapid 45.17 to win the penultimate heat by 0.91, splitting 21.59/23.58. The swim took down the previous U.S. Open Record of 45.22, set by Caeleb Dressel during the 2019 ISL season, and obliterated the 45.50 Guiliano swam at the 2024 Short Course World Championships.

Just minutes later, Alexy dove in for the final heat and went out in an equally fast 21.59 on the opening 50, before closing in 23.50 to clock 45.09 and undercut Guiliano’s new mark. The swim was just four one-hundredths shy of his own lifetime best of 45.05, also swam at the 2024 SC Worlds.

According to World Aquatics, Guiliano is now the equal 11th-fastest performer in history, while Alexy remains seventh all time.

Alexy now ranks second in the world this season, behind only Russia’s Egor Kornev, who tied the world record with a 44.84 earlier this month. Australia’s Cameron McEvoy, who has swum a lifetime-best 45.11 this season as he returns to the event, sits third, with Guiliano fourth.

2	Jack ALEXY	USA	45.09	10/30
3	Cameron McEVOY	AUS	45.11	10/15
4	Chris GUILIANO	USA	45.17	10/30
5	Flynn Southam	AUS	45.61	09/30

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It will take a few minutes for the rankings to update.

Earlier in the meet, Alexy took second in the 50 free (20.59), just off his 20.51 personal best from the 2024 SC World Championships, where he won bronze. Guiliano swam a lifetime-best 20.66 to finish a narrow third.

Alexy and Guiliano have been staples on Team USA sprint relays since both debuted at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka. This week’s meet will be the second short course World Championships for both swimmers, following the 2024 edition in Budapest, where Alexy collected five medals: golds in the 100 free and 4×100 free relay, silvers on the 4×100 medley and 4×100 mixed medley relays, and a bronze in the 50 free. Guiliano was part of the winning 4×100 free relay and placed fourth in both the 50 and 100 free.

Caeleb Dressel, who won the 50 free in 20.57 and has been as quick as 45.08 in the 100 back in 2020, will also be in tonight’s final, which features three swimmers who broke 46 seconds in this morning’s prelims. Alexy and Guiliano start as co-favorites for the individual spots at Worlds, but Jett and Dressel, among others, will be in the hunt, and sub-46 swims should earn spots on the 4×100 free relay.